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Carl Edwards signs autographs on the red carpet at Fanfest at Fremont Street in Las Vegas. Photo by LAT PHOTOGRAPHIC

Opinion: NASCAR will remember Carl Edwards for his dignity

The 37-year-old was just as good off the track as behind the wheel

January 11, 2017

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With one foot already out the door, Carl Edwards didn’t owe anyone an explanation for why he suddenly walked away from an elite NASCAR career, but he provided one anyway. It was the right thing to do for a guy who's always tried to carry himself with both class and respect.

The 37-year-old will be the first to admit his flaws. He’s prone to overthinking and has a private disposition that borders on paranoia. And yet, he’s always been one of the most accessible stars in the garage, and he seems to have a deep longing to be understood by those around him. In that sense, Edwards might be the most human of all of us.

That spirit was laid bare on Wednesday morning during the press conference to announce what could ultimately be his retirement from NASCAR. Knowing just how many people were invested in his life and career, Edwards made himself an open book to those who wrote his story over the past decade and a half.

To his credit, Carl Edwards faced the media and answered every question directed at him on Wednesday morning during a press conference announcing what seems to be his NASCAR retirement at Joe Gibbs ...

"I think I owe it to you guys, and I'd like to share my reasons and then allow you to ask some questions and talk about it," Edwards said.

Edwards is 100 percent healthy. He's just plain tired.

He’s physically worn out and wants to spend time with his friends and family. This isn’t a popular notion to many fans, but the Cup Series schedule is grueling even for millionaires with their own jets and motorhomes.

NASCAR has a way of isolating you from your loved ones. It consumes you -- and sometimes traps you. It can leave even the most successful of us feeling bitter and short-tempered. And despite Edwards grappling with this nagging desire to step away, he conducted himself with aplomb.

That was no more apparent in November at Homestead-Miami Speedway when Edwards was denied his first Cup championship due to a late incident with Joey Logano. Knowing that some form of retirement could be looming, he could have snapped at the rival team or the reporters but respected both on his way to infield care.

Sure, there’s the video of Edwards appearing to punk out teammate Matt Kenseth with a fake punch on pit road while both were at Roush Racing or rumors of his discord with various teammates over the years. But through it all, the good outweighed the bad.

And again, he’s completely aware of his innermost struggles.

"Guys, I have the best teammates in the sport -- they're great," Edwards said. "I mean, I have not always been the best teammate. I have been a self‑centered jerk at times. I know that. That's been pointed out by multiple teammates.

Daniel Suarez knew he was on the fast track to the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series.But this fast?On Wednesday, the 25-year-old Suarez was named to replace retiring Carl Edwards in the No. 19 Joe ...

Again, despite the marketing prowess and commercial appeal, Edwards has always had a sincerity about him. He leaves NASCAR (for now) with a sterling reputation and a personal code of conduct that’s led him to become a sort of role model.

Confronted with that notion during the press conference, Edwards turned away from the crowd to fight back tears, gathered himself and stated he simply wanted to do right by those around him. He isn’t always successful in that regard, but damn it, he tries.

"I just want to be a good person, you know," Edwards said, almost needing to force the words through his tears. "Sorry, guys. Damn camera shutters are killing me there. It's the lighting, it's awful.

"I'm sorry. It's just nice of you to say, and I just think about the ... it's important to me to be ... to just do the right thing. I don't always do the right thing, and just like anyone, there are things I wish I could do over, and that's that ...

"OK."

That’s when the waterworks truly began.

Maybe this isn’t the end for Edwards in NASCAR. Perhaps it is. But for now, Edwards gave us all the closure we needed as NASCAR fans. He provided another look at the man he aspires to be, and hopefully he found closure in that, too.

With 28 Cup wins and five top-five championship finishes, Edwards has been an excellent addition to the weekly on-track product. But don’t underestimate the immeasurable value of the man off the track as well.